The UK military has reportedly outsourced surveillance flights over Gaza to a United States defense contractor due to a shortage of available British aircraft, according to The Times. The flights, which the UK government says are solely for supporting hostage rescue efforts, have been carried out by a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation using a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus. This move comes after the Royal Air Force's own reconnaissance planes were reassigned or required maintenance. The outsourcing has raised concerns about the extent of cuts to Britain's military capabilities and the risks of relying on private contractors. A recent incident revealed a US-operated plane's flight path over Gaza after a transponder error made it visible on public tracking websites. The UK Defense Ministry has declined to comment on operational details but maintains that its surveillance is focused on locating hostages.